Paper for Cambridge 2007 proceedings submit.pdf - Roger Blench

Name Possible AN contact Possible other contact
Socotra Islands ? Numerous
Tromelin Island ? Doubtful
Zanzibar Yes Numerous
The Southern Indian Ocean islands consist of Amsterdam Island, Crozet Islands, Heard Island, Kerguelen
Islands, Marion Island, McDonald Islands, Prince Edward Islands and Saint-Paul Island. These are
generally extremely cold and windswept and although Austronesian settlement is not impossible, it seems
extremely unlikely.
10. Synthesis and conclusions
An accumulation of evidence suggests that there were direct Austronesian contacts with the East African
coast prior to 0 AD unconnected with the settlement of Madagascar. This includes textual sources,
maritime technology, plant and animal transfers, disease and other aspects of material culture. If we
accept Pliny’s account, then these were direct voyages by outrigger that brought spices and took back
Graeco-Roman manufactures, making use of the equatorial counter-current.
This should be distinguished from later contact with the coast, initiated from the Malay-speaking area
which probably begins from the 6 th century onwards. Despite the absence of Austronesian-speaking
populations on the mainland today, it is likely that a trading and raiding culture existed between the 6 th
and 12 th centuries. It would have been responsible for the transport of the Barito and Sabaki-speaking
peoples to Madagascar, originating the complex culture that exists there today.
In archaeology, you find what you seek, and evidence for the Austronesian crossings of the Indian Ocean
has hardly been sought. Further work should uncover evidence for both settlements on the East African
mainland and traces of temporary landings on the many intervening islands apparently unoccupied at first
European contact.
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